Joey Rosskopf wins Sprint Especiales in Mallorca finale
Podium prize follows Mannion's sixth place on Saturday
Rally Cycling finished this year’s Challenge Mallorca on a high. During the fourth and final race, Trofeo Alcudia, the team went on the offensive early to force the day’s breakaway. Escaping with teammate Kyle Murphy, Joey Rosskopf proceeded to win both Sprint Especiales points in the 170km sprinter-friendly race.
“Getting on the podium for any reason is always nice so I’ll take what I can get,” said Rosskopf. “It was just a really fun day out there with the team. Especially double-teaming the break with Kyle Murphy. Everyone was racing with nothing to lose and giving it their all on our last day in Mallorca.”
The first three days of Challenge Mallorca were made for the climbers and as such the team did not travel to the race with a fastman.
“Without a pure sprinter in the race, the plan for the day was to put some guys in the break to go after the intermediate prizes,” added Rosskopf. “To win both sprint points I launched early attacks from a few kilometers out and both times Kyle played anchor by following any subsequent chase efforts from the other guys in the break.”
Rosskopf’s impressive ride came hot on the heels of Gavin Mannion’s sixth-place finish in the monumentally-hilly Trofeo Andratx the day before.
“I’m happy with the result and to build some momentum,” said Mannion. “A few guys snuck away but I was able to race to third from the lead group. It’s been a tough year with a lot of missed chances and close calls so it feels nice to have something concrete and to know that a podium was within reach.”
With half of the men’s team just finished France’s Tro-Bro Léon and are heading to the Tour du Finistère on May 22, while the majority of the Mallorca crew will head to mainland Spain for Vuelta Murcia on May 23. Race highlights from the entire Challenge Mallorca are available to watch on GCN+.
Trofeo Alcudia Sprint Especiales results
1 ROSSKOPF Joey Rally Cycling 6 pts
Trofeo Andratx results
1 ANACONA Winner Team Arkéa Samsic 4:04:30
2 LAENGEN Vegard Stake UAE-Team Emirates 0:10
3 ITURRIA Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi 0:13
4 HERRADA Jesús Cofidis, Solutions Crédits 1:34
5 HERREGODTS Rune Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise 1:39
6 MANNION Gavin Rally Cycling ”
7 CHEVALIER Maxime B&B Hotels p/b KTM ”
8 ZIMMERMANN Georg Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux ”
9 BELLICAUD Jeremy Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux ”
10 BENNETT Sean Team Qhubeka ASSOS 1:44
